NORFOLK, VA—In a sobering report given on Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), it was announced that the vast majority of goldfish held in captivity live in extreme poverty.
The report explains that, by their most conservative estimates, 87% of Carassius auratus, known by the more familiar name, "Goldfish," due to their shimmering orange and yellowish scales, live in conditions that PETA considers to be inhumane. The organization, which has 6.5 million members worldwide, describes "the horrifying conditions in which these beautiful creatures struggle to survive."
Near the top of their central points is that these fish lack access to running water, and subsequently are often found swimming in their own waste. Their report explains that 82% of all bowls and tanks currently occupied by one or more goldfish is estimated to contain some amount of feces.
In a devastating estimate, PETA expects that as many as 98.7% of goldfish cannot read above a second grade level. Indeed, the report goes on for several pages about the caretakers' neglect of goldfish education generally, in arts, sciences, and humanities.
Additionally, the report explains that a staggering 99% of these majestic creatures likely do not know from whence their next meal will come, and almost as many do not remember the last time they ate.
Among other minor concerns, the report explains that goldfish caretakers commonly leave these pets in bowls with little to no gravel to look nice, which, if left unresolved, can have long-term effects on mood, motivation, and possibly even sleep cycles.
PETA, which has been in existence since 1980, hopes that their report will spur changes in the pet industry, and will shed light on the exceptionally disadvantaged circumstances in which these organisms find themselves.